Shahzad Rasheed
Peshawar: Renowned lawyer, Chairman of Moazzam Law Associates, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Moazzam Butt, accompanied by Father Shahid Younis, General Secretary of the Diocese of Peshawar, addressed a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday. He called on the provincial government to return the administrative control of Edwardes College Peshawar to the Church, arguing that this would help restore the institution’s academic excellence and reputation.
Moazzam Butt said that the ongoing legal dispute between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government and the Governor over the administrative authority of Edwardes College has severely damaged the institution. He stated that Edwardes College, once recognized worldwide for its academic excellence and distinguished legacy, has suffered a significant decline in its reputation due to the prolonged conflict. According to him, the quality of education has deteriorated, and many students are leaving the college in favor of other institutions.
He further claimed that the college is facing serious financial difficulties and has become administratively unstable. According to Butt, uncertainty surrounding the administration and ongoing litigation have discouraged principals from serving at the institution, resulting in a lack of stable leadership and negatively affecting its overall functioning.
He urged the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to resolve their differences and end the dispute over the institution’s administration. He called for all administrative powers of Edwardes College to be handed back to the Church so that the college could regain its academic standards, effective governance, and longstanding tradition of promoting quality education and interfaith harmony.
Moazzam Butt further stated that, in his view, the quality of the faculty has declined, some academic programs have ceased to function, and the continued legal battles have created uncertainty among students and parents, adversely affecting admissions.
He also appealed to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to play an active role in restoring the prestige and academic standing of Edwardes College.
